He was recognized by a eunuch from a mole on his left foot, but the eunuch was afraid to reveal his identity.
The victorious uncle mounted the throne in the year 1403, under the now famous title of Yung Lo (_Yoong Law_), and soon showed that he could govern as well as he could fight.

He brought immigrants from populous provinces to repeople the districts which had been laid waste by war.
Peking was built, and in 1421 the seat of government was transferred thither, where it has remained ever since.

A new Penal Code was drawn up.

Various military expeditions were despatched against the Tartars, and missions under the charge of eunuchs were sent to Java, Sumatra, Siam, and even reached Ceylon and the Red Sea.

The day of doubt in regard to the general accuracy of Chinese annals has gone by; were it otherwise, a recent (1911) discovery in Ceylon would tend to dispel suspicion on one point.